Door-operating mechanism



y 6, 1929. w. A. GElG-E DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 20,- 1926 2Sheets-Sheet mine55 wow/M; 39 Q ij fzy DOOR OPERAT ING MECHANI SM FiledMay 0, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 59/ 2 E fl 4/ o I o 47 y 2 7 41 PatentedJuly 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. GEIGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W.

HLMINER, INC., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 20, 1926. Serial No. 110,434.

This invention relates to door operating mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient dooroperating mechanism for forcing the door when partly closed to tightlyclosed position, for bold ing the door closed, and for forcing the sameopen to facilitate the complete opening thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door operating mechanismespecially adapted for pivoted doors of refrigerator cars, includingoperating mechanism movably mounted upon one of said doors, the ends ofsaid mechanism being arranged to project beyond the edges of the doorand cooperate with keeper means arranged in such manner as to permitmovement of the ends of said operating mechanism continuously in onedirection, or the other, for effecting both opening and closingmovements of the door, or to permit opening and closing movements of thedoor to be effected by movement of the operating mechanism first in onedirection and then in the opposite direction in a plurality ofpositions.

Other and further objects of the invention will more fully and clearlyappear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a portion of a refrigerator car showing myimprovements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, partly broken away, corresponding,substantially to the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the position of theparts of the mechanism when the door is tightly closed. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the lower end of theoperating mechanism taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the same inengagement with the lower keeper shown in top plan, the door in partlyopen position being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sideelevation of refrigerator car doors, similar to Fig. 1, but on a reducedscale, showing a different embodiment of the invention. And Fig. 5 is aVertical, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, partly broken away,corresponding substantially to the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive,

the side of the car is shown as provided with a door frame 10 and twopivoted doors 11 and 12. The doors have the usual beveled meeting edges,and the customary insulation or packing is employed between the freeedeges of the doors and between the door and door frame. The doors 11and 12 are mounted for swinging movement about vertical axes, beingsupported by suitable hinges 13. 13.

The door operating mechanism comprises broadly an operating bar A;keepers l B; and actuating mechanism C.

The operating bar A preferably is in the form of av flat elongatedmember tapering from an intermediate portion towards its opposite ends,and being of a length somewhat greater than the vertical height of thedoor 12, said bar being pivotally mounted at a central point asindicated at 14, so that the opposite ends of said bar swing in adirection substantially parallel of the plane of the door 12, movementof the end portions being limited and guided by means of suitable guidebrackets 1515. Each end portion of the bar A is reduced as indicated at16 and upon said reduced portion there is mounted an anti-frictionelement 17.

The keepers B-B are two in number, one of the same being secured to thedoor frame 10, adjacent the top edge of the door 12, while the otherkeeper is secured to the door frame 10 adjacent the bottom edge of thedoor 12. The bottom keeper B is preferably in the form of a castinghaving a bottom wall 18, and upstanding portions providing a rear wall19, extending substantially parallel to the plane of the door frame, thewall 19 merging into outwardly inclined oppositely extending walls 20and 21, and spaced outwardly from walls 19, 20, and 21, is an upstandingabutment 22 provided with outwardly inclined oppositely disposed walls23 and 24, the walls 23 and 24 being con nected by a fiat portion 25.The walls 23 and 24 extend substantially parallel with the walls 21 and20, and in conjunction with the flat portion 25 and back wall 19 definea double ended cam slot adapted for the reception of the anti-frictionelement 17 on the end of the bar A, said end being adapted to traversethe cam slot throughout its extent. The lower keeper B is provided withflanges 26 and 27, through which are extended securing bolts 2828 forrigidly mounting the keeper l3 upon the door The flange 27 of the keeperB is extended to the left, as best shown in Fig. 1, and is provided atits end with a pivoted latch 29 adapted to cooperate with a wear platemounted upon the lower right hand corner of the door 11.

The upper keeper B is identically similar to the lower keeper 13, exceptfor its opposite disposition and the omission of the extension upon theflange 27, and similar parts of the two keepers will be indicated bysimilar reference characters. The upper keeper B provides a double endedcam slot for the reception of the upper end of the bar A in the samemanner as provided in connection with the lower end of the bar in thelower keeper.

The actuatii'ig means C comprise a lever 31 pivoted adjacent one end asindicated at 32, so as to provide a handle and crank portion 34c. Thecrank portion of the lever 31 is pivotally connected by a link with thebar A, the construction being such that the swinging movement of thehandle 31 of the lever e'lteets corresponding swinging movement of theopposite ends or the operating bar A. 7

The crank portion 34: of the lever extends somewhat beyond the pivotalconnection with 'link 35 therewith and is provided with an apertureadapted to cooperate with a locking bracket 86, said locking bracket andcrank portion 84: being provided with apertures adapted to register topermit the insertion of a sealing member in the usual manner.

In operatiomassuming the door 12 to be in its fully closed position asshown in full lines in Fig. 1, and it is desired to open said door, thelever 31 may be swiiing in a counter clockwise direction as shown ondotted. line in Fig. 1, which impart-s movement to the opposite endsolthe operating bar in a clockwise direction, thus causing the endportions oi the operating bar to bear against the wall 20 of the lowerkeeper, and the wall 21 of the upper keeper, which moves the door 12 inan outward direction a sufficient distance to clear the insulation,after which the door 12 may be swung to fully open position. It insteadof swinging the operating lever 31 in a counter clockwise direction,when the door is closed, conditions are encountered which might renderclockwise swinging oi the lever 81 and of the bar more convenient, saidlever may be swung in a clockwise direction, etlecting counter clockwisemovement of the opposite ends of the operating bar A. During thismovement, the lower end of the operating bar will bear upon the wall 21,while the upper end of the operating bar will bear upon the wall 20, inthis way also effecting movement of the door 12 in an opening direction.filter the door 12 l is LA. all

lower keepers, travers of been ope" ed suflieiently to clear theinsulation in either manner above referred to, the same then may beeasily swung to fully open position, and the latch 29 disengaged. fromthe wear plate, permitting the door 11 also to be readily swung to fullyopened position.

When it is desired to close the doors, the door 11 is swung to nearlyclosed position, after which the door 12 is swung into position thattheopposite ends of the bar A may be engaged with the keepers in either otthe two positions. If it is thought to be more convenient to swing thelever 31 in a clockwise direction, the upper and lower ends of the barare engaged with the cam surfaces 23 and 2% respectively of the upperand lower keepers, bearing thereon during movement of the operating barso as to cil ect closing movement of the door; If on the other hand,counter clockwise rotation of the lever 31 is desirable, the upper andlower ends of the bar may be engaged with the inclined walls 24L and 28ot the upper and th ends of the bars. in the manner described moving thedoor to fully closed position. After the door 12 has been closed. thelatch 29 may be turnedinto position to hold the door 11 closed. Itshould be observed that movement of the lever 31, and consequently ofthe bar A, continuously in one or the other 01" two directions wille'llectboth opening and closing movements of the door when operation ofthis character 1 is desired.

Reterrin new to Figs. 4 and 5 a somewhat differe i tembodiment of theinvention is contemplated. In this construction, a verticallyreciprocable operating bar E is provided, which is mounted forreciprocation upon the door 37 by means of guide brackets 3S38. The barE is of somewhat greater length than the vertical height of the door 37and is provided at its opposite ends with lateral extensions formingT-shaped heads 39 and 40.

Keepers F-F are provided, one of said keepers being secured to the frame41 adjacent the upper edge of the door 37, while the lower keeper F issecured to the frame l1 adjacent the lower edge of the door 37. Thelower keeper is provided with side portions 1-242, said portions beingspaced apart. and arranged to provide oppositely inclined surfaces d3, 41-, 45 and 46, said cam surfaces defining a continuous cam slot in each01 the side portions 42 for the reception of the lateral extensionswhich form the T-head on the lower end of the bar E. The lower keeper Fis provided with flanges 47 and 48 through which are extended securingbolts, the flange 48 being extended to the left, as shown, and providedwith a pivoted latch 4-9 adapted to engage the wear plate 50 on thelower right hand corner of the door 51. The upper keeper F isidentically similar to the lower keeper, except for the omission of theextension on the flange 48 of the lower keeper, and the various parts ofsaid keeper will be designated by reference characters similar to thoseutilized in connection with the lower keeper. Reciprocation of the bar Eis effected by means of a lever pivotally mounted upon the door 37 asindicated at 53 and having a slotted connection with the bar E indicatedat 54.

In operation, assuming the door to be closed as shown in the drawings,when it is desired to open the door, the lever 52 is swung in a clockvise direct-ion effecting vertical reciprocation upwardly of the bar E,causing traverse by the lateral extensions of the opposite ends of thebar E of the cam surfaces 45 of the upper and lower keepers resulting,in opening movement of the door. If desired, the bar E may bereciprocated downwardly causing traverse of the cam surfaces 46 by thelateral extensions forming the T-heads of the opposite ends of the barE, which also results in moving the door in an opening direction. \Vhenthe door 37 has been moved sufficiently to clear the insulation aboutthe operating mechanism, said door may be readily swung to fully openedposition, after which the latch 49 may be swung to inoperative position,and the door 51 fully opened. \Vhen it is desired to close the doors,the door 51 is swung nearly closed, after which the door 37 is swungtoward closed posit-ion until the T-heads of the bar E are in positionto enter the cam slots of the keepers, and the door may be forced toclosed position, either by reciprocating the bar E upwardly ordownwardly as most convenient to cause traverse of the cam surfaces 43or 44: respectively. After the door 37 is closed, the latch 49 may beswung to operative position to hold the door 51 in closed position.

lVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider thepreferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merelyillustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door frame anda pivoted door; of a movable operating member mounted on said door; andkeeper means mounted on said frame and adapted to coact with saidoperating member, said keeper means being provided with a guide meansfor said operating member, including a plurality of successively actingcam surfaces adapted to co-act with said operating member in successivepositions thereof for effective successively closing and opening of saiddoor.

2. In a door operating mechanism of the character described, thecombination with a frame providing a door opening, and a doorcooperating with said frame; of a single operating member movablymounted on said door having the endportions thereof projecting beyondthe opposite edges of said door, and keeper means mounted on said dooradjacent said end portions, said keeper means being provided withoppositely disposed cam surfaces inclined out wardly from said doorframe and adapted to co-act with the end portions of said operatingmember to effect movementof said door in opening and closingdirect-ions.

3. In a door operating mechanism of the character described, thecombination with a frame providing a door opening, and a doorcooperating with said frame; of a single operating member movablymounted on said door having the end portions thereof projecting beyondthe opposite edges of said door, and keeper means mounted on said dooradjacent said end portions, said keeper means being provided withoppositely disposed cam surfaces inclined. outwardly from said doorframe and adapted to co-act with the end portions of said operatingmember to effect movementof said door in opening and closingdirect-ions, said cam sur aces being connected at the points where thesame converge to provide continuous cam surfaces for said keeper.

4. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door frame anda door; of an operating member movably mounted upon said door; andkeeper meansmounted on said door frame, said keeper means being providedwith cam surfaces arranged at an angle to each other and defining a camslot having a plurality of openings in different positions, each ofwhich is arranged to permit the entrance of said operatin g member tosaid cam slot; and means for moving said operating member to effecttraverse by the same of said keeper means.

5. As an article of manufacture, a keeper pro *ided with spaced wallsdefining a continuous cam slot having a rectilineally extending centralportion and end portions disposed at an angle to said central portionand diverging outwardly therefrom.

6. As an article of manufacture, a keeper having spaced substantiallyparallel walls extending at a certain angle, and other spacedsubstantially parallel walls extending at an angle to said firstmentioned walls,

said walls defining cam slots for co-operation with an operating member,said slots having independent openings for the entrance and withdrawalof the operating member with respect to said keeper.

7. In a door operating mechanism of the character described, thecombination with a door frame and a pivoted door; of an operating memberpivotally mounted on said door intermediate its ends, said member havingactuating elements extending beyond opposite edges of said door; keepermeans mounted on said door frame and adapted to cooperate with the endelements of said operating member, each of said keepers being providedwith a continuous cam slot, one portion of which is disposed at an angleto another portion thereof, said slot being arranged for the receptionof the end parts of said operating member to cause traverse of eitherport-ion of said cam slot; and means for imparting operating movementsto said operating member.

8. As an article of manufacture, a keeper having spaced walls definingcam slots, one portion of said keeper having the spaced walls disposedat an angle to the spaced walls of another portion of said keeper, saidcam slots communicating with each other at their inner ends, and eachslot having a separate opening at its outer extremity adapted for theentrance and withdrawal of an operating member.

94in a door operating mechanism, the combination with a door frame and apivoted door; an operating member movably mounted on said door; andkeeper means mounted on said door frame and adapted to co-act with saidoperating member, said keeper means being provided with a pluralit-y ofoppositely inclined cam surfaces defining cam slots communicating attheir inner ends, and providing openings at their outer ends, said camslots being formed to permit traverse of said operating member fromengagement with one to engagement with the other without withdrawal ofsaid operating member from said keeper, to effect movement of said doorin opening and closing directions. Y

10. In a. door operating mechanism, the combination with a door frameand a pivoted door; of keeper means mounted on said door frame; anoperating member movably mounted on said door; keeper engaging means onsaid operating member and movable tlicrewitli, said keeper means beingprovided with a guideway having communicating guide portions extendingin opposite directions and inclined outwardly away from said door frameand cooperating with said engaging means, whereby movement of theoperating member in one direction through both guide portions effectssuccessively closing and opening movements of the door. 7

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis ltth day of May, 1926.

WILLIAM A. GEIGER.

